In Memorium
Paul Bao-Jen Chu of Port Charlotte, Florida passed away on April 6, 2000 at Fawcett Memorial Hospital. Born May 15, 1914 in Shanghai, China, he came to Port Charlotte in 1986 from Bethesda, Maryland. He was the first born from a very well-educated couple in Shanghai, China. Mother Ping-Haia Hu, the first Chinese woman to graduate from Wellesley College in Massachusetts and father Ting-Chi Chu, the first year graduate of Harvard Business School.
He was Professor and Director of Labor Studies Department at Rutgers The State University of New Jersey for nine years from 1974-1983. He graduated many PhD students who are currently teaching at different universities. He served in the International Labor Office, a specialized agency of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland for twenty-five years, holding positions of increasing responsibility. As Chief of the Worker’s Education Branch, he was responsible for the development and implementation of labor laws, child labor laws, conditions of workers and improved workers education, most notable in Iran, Iraq, Egypt and India.
His efforts are well-recognized throughout the world. Upon his retirement from the ILO, David Morse, Secretary General of ILO/United Nations Agency described his relentless efforts as “well-recognized throughout the world, accepted by multinational governments, major universities, trade union and employee organization.” He traveled world-wide, working with multinational officials to improve conditions of workers in third world countries. Paul received a BA from Oberlin College in Ohio, an MA from University of California at Berkeley, California. He received three honorary Doctor of Philosophy degrees from leading universities in Korea, India and Taiwan.
He leaves behind his loving wife of 59 years, Phyllis Shu Yuan Teng; son Donald Liang Chu of Morris Plains, NJ; daughter Dr. Pauline Chu Pan of Denville, NJ; daughter-in-law Kit Cheung Chu; son-in-law Dr. Frank Pan; four grandchildren Elaine Pan Zinngrabe, Brian Pan, Herman Chu and Jessica Chu. Survivors in family include brothers Philip B. M. Chu, Dr. David B. S. Chu, Dr. James B. T. Chu, sisters Constance B. H. Chu Chien and Rosalin B. Y. Chu.
Memorial services will be held at Port Charlotte First Presbyterian Church on Wednesday April 12 at 3 pm. Family viewing will be on Tuesday April 11.
The family mourn his passing, but are grateful that God blessed him so richly during his life.
--- Printed on Herald-Tribute, Tuesday, April 11, 2000
By Wolfgang Saxon
Paul Bao-Jen Chu, a former international labor official and retired professor at Rutgers University, died on April 6 at a hospital in Port Charlotte, Fla., where he had moved from Bethesda, Md., four years ago. He was 85.
Dr. Chu also formerly lived in Geneva and Bellemead, N. J.
A native of Shanghai, he was an economics graduate of Oberlin College and received an M. A. in international relations from the University of California at Berkeley. He was with the International Labor Organization in Geneva from 1948 to 1974, rising to chief of its workers’ education branch.
When the organization was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1968, it credited Dr. Chu with helping to shape and put into effort adult labor education programs and child labor laws.
He joined the Rutgers faculty as a professor of labor education and international relations in 1974, and headed the university’s labor studies department until he retired in 1983.
Over his career, Dr. Chu was credited with some 120 publications and reports on labor laws and economics.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Phyllis Shu-Yuan Teng Chu; a daughter, Dr. Pauline Chu Pan of Denville, N. J.; a son, Donald Liang, of Morris Plains, N. J.; three brothers, Philip Bao-Mei, of Honolulu, Dr. David Bao-Shen, of Chapel Hill, N. C., and Dr. James Bao-Teh, of North Haven, Conn.; two sisters, Constance Bao-Hwa Chu Chien of Manhattan and Rosalina Bao-Yuen Chu of the Bronx; and four grandchildren.
--- Printed on the New York Times, Monday, April 24, 2000